Comments on: Readers Challenge: Origin of the “Joystick” word http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/ General Aviation and Aviation In General Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:23:43 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Axel http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/comment-page-1/#comment-1988 Axel Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:24:57 +0000 http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/#comment-1988 Check this link out: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=958&Itemid=2 I'd probably be breaking some copyrights if I were to copy and paste the text on to here, so just check out the link above instead. It offers some plausible (and non-sexual ;) ) explanations for the origins of this term. Enjoy. Check this link out:
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=958&Itemid=2

I’d probably be breaking some copyrights if I were to copy and paste the text on to here, so just check out the link above instead. It offers some plausible (and non-sexual ;) ) explanations for the origins of this term.

Enjoy.

]]> By: PlasticPilot http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/comment-page-1/#comment-1981 PlasticPilot Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:14:36 +0000 http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/#comment-1981 Thank you for your answers. I knew about the "gentlemen-only" version, but I hoped for something else... Debate remains open, any theory is welcome. Thank you for your answers. I knew about the “gentlemen-only” version, but I hoped for something else… Debate remains open, any theory is welcome.

]]> By: Don Dinwiddie http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/comment-page-1/#comment-1965 Don Dinwiddie Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:14:22 +0000 http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/#comment-1965 I am American and that was my understanding. The Brits are prone to that kind of word play. I am American and that was my understanding. The Brits are prone to that kind of word play.

]]> By: Cliff Stanford http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/comment-page-1/#comment-1950 Cliff Stanford Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:22:53 +0000 http://www.plasticpilot.net/blog/2008/04/05/readers-challenge-origin-of-the-joystick-word/#comment-1950 Joy-stick, relating to an aeroplane rather than a joystick which relates to a computer control device, appears to be an English (rather than American) term. In the US, it is referred to as a "control stick". The earliest use appears to be in a short book by Horatio Barber in 1916 in his short book, <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/arspk10.txt" rel="nofollow">The Aeroplane Speaks</a>. He defines it as meaning "Control Lever" in his glossary. There is a suggestion that it was a vulgar term for the control stick, with the implication that a (male) pilot was gripping the stick between his legs; his joy-stick. Cliff. Joy-stick, relating to an aeroplane rather than a joystick which relates to a computer control device, appears to be an English (rather than American) term. In the US, it is referred to as a “control stick”.

The earliest use appears to be in a short book by Horatio Barber in 1916 in his short book, The Aeroplane Speaks. He defines it as meaning “Control Lever” in his glossary.

There is a suggestion that it was a vulgar term for the control stick, with the implication that a (male) pilot was gripping the stick between his legs; his joy-stick.

Cliff.

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